Freshmen Contributors – Big School Guards
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There are a whole bunch of 2026s who have yet to crack the varsity lineup but who you will be hearing plenty from soon. It’s possible the best players in the class haven’t made their names at their schools yet.…
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Continue ReadingThere are a whole bunch of 2026s who have yet to crack the varsity lineup but who you will be hearing plenty from soon. It’s possible the best players in the class haven’t made their names at their schools yet.
But quite a few 2026s did make a mark as freshmen. Let’s take a look at the Top Freshmen Contributors from the guard position in the 5A and 6A classes from last season (in alphabetical order):
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<span class="player-img"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Brayden-Myovela.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Freshmen Contributors – Big School Guards"></span>
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KaeVon Bonner
KaeVon Bonner
Seaman graduated a ton from the 5A champs a year ago. Bonner was ready when the door opened. After spending the previous summer honing his skills against older competition, he was ready for varsity ball. The younger brother of an established senior leader, Bonner stepped right in and scored like an experienced combo guard. He hit 39% from deep, racking up 8 points per game. He really took off after the Christmas break, becoming one of the Vikings’ more reliable weapons.
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<span class="player-img"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Brayden-Myovela.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Freshmen Contributors – Big School Guards"></span>
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Jakhai Carter
Jakhai Carter
Shawnee Mission West didn’t exactly have the kind of season they hoped for last year. But the season did afford Carter the opportunity to learn from some quality seniors. He demonstrated a high level of creativity and play-making ability. Carter is athletic and a slick ball handler who can get his own shot, and he also dealt out 2 assists per game. He didn’t shoot it great, but club action has shown he can score. Watch for him to take a big leap this season.
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<span class="player-img"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Brayden-Myovela.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Freshmen Contributors – Big School Guards"></span>
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Alex Casares
Alex Casares
North had an even tough go than Shawnee Mission West last year. One of the highlights, however, was the play of point guard Casares. He understands how to play the point guard position, focusing on taking care of the ball and getting it to the right spots. He doesn’t score a ton, but he can be a threat from deep and to get into the paint for shots. As a freshman, he was tough and unfazed by older opponents.
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<span class="player-img"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Brayden-Myovela.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Freshmen Contributors – Big School Guards"></span>
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DJ Jackson
DJ Jackson
One of the few freshmen to earn accolades for his freshman season, Jackson hit the ground running. He was MVP of an early-season tournament. He wound up his first season with some honorable mentions on the state level. While carrying a lot of the ball handling duties, he averaged 9 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. He stepped into a leadership role for the young Pirates, who look to make some serious noise next season with pretty much all their parts back.
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Brayden Myovela
Brayden
Myovela
6'3" | CG
Maize | 2026
State
KS
Brayden Myovela
Brayden
Myovela
6'3" | CG
Maize | 2026
State
KS
Like most of the other players on this list, Myovela (pictured at top) stepped into the rotation for teams that were recovering from heavy graduation losses. After finishing fourth in 5A in 2022, the Eagles lost their top five scorers. In stepped Myovela, a big athlete who can overwhelm smaller guards despite being just a freshman. His combination of size, skill and athleticism will make him one of the best guards in the state as early as his sophomore season. He hit 35% from deep, makes plays above the rim, and defends.